Young talent time for SA duo

SACA Media

Promising South Australian pair Darcie Brown and Emma de Broughe will join some of the country’s brightest young talent in this year’s under-19 rebel Women’s Big Bash League exhibition matches in Canberra.

The first-year Statewide Super SA Scorpions have been selected in a ‘Lanning XI’ squad to compete against a ‘Perry XI’ in three Twenty20 matches across two days at Phillip Oval in the nation’s capital.

The exhibition games - now in their third year - play an important role in developing the country’s top underage female talent.

Selection was completed in conjunction with state associations and WBBL clubs, with players to wear the colours of their affiliated WBBL clubs during matches.

Fast bowler Brown, who signed with the Adelaide Strikers and is already one of the quickest young bowlers in the country, is among nine WBBL-contracted players named.

Dual-sport athlete de Broughe made her Women’s National Cricket League debut for the Scorpions in September and is also an accomplished hockey player.

De Broughe impresses in opening time trial

Cricket Australia Female High Performance Coach Leah Poulton said it was exciting to see Australia’s young female stars shining through.

“The female player pathway is the strongest it has even been, and these matches certainly contribute to that along with regular overseas tours for the Australia Under-19 side,” Poulton said.

“Just recently we’ve seen how well players such as Phoebe Litchfield, Stella Campbell and Tess Flintoff have done stepping up to the WBBL which is the leading women’s domestic cricket league in the world, so it’s evident that the pathway is doing what its designed to do.”